Autism Language Program

Research and development timeline

	2010 Introduce Video Modeling (VOL), a software application that helps individuals learn new behavioral skills in a two-step learning process (View & Do). An onscreen highlighter helps the learner focus on key portions of the video.
	2009 Introduce ALP Animated Graphics (AAG), a set of dynamic graphic depictions for over 100 action verbs and prepositions. The graphic images were created using a consistent theme for agents and objects in order to optimize acquisition of these hard to learn language concepts.
	2009 Introduce Teaching Language Concepts (TLC), a software application that teaches action verbs, prepositions and descriptors. The selection of a logical sequence of graphic symbols (composed of essential language elements) leads to an associated video clip. An important option of the application is a personalization feature whereby video clips and still images reflecting personalized content can be easily uploaded into the program’s image warehouse.
	2006 Introduce Learning Together with Music, a software program with music, games and visual supports to help acquire and improve language for children with language/learning difficulties.
	2006 Introduce Puddingstone Place, an interactive virtual environment for teaching vocabulary and language skills to children with a variety of developmental disabilities.
	2005 Introduce Two-way Observational Learning as a clinical tool for persons with autism.
	2003 Remotely deliver AAC over the Internet to modify software at an off-site location.
	2002 Develop the Children's Hospital Boston Medical Symbol Set.
	2002 Develop visual-based curriculum in a collaborative affiliation with Monarch School for Children with Autism.
	2002 Develop first clinical application using scene and element cues for persons with autism.
	1997 Develop EyeWare, an eye gaze communication system for persons with severely limited motor control.
	1996 Develop Companion, the first clinical application of graphical metaphor (currently known as a visual scene display) in AAC.
	1996 Establish the Children's Hospital Boston Model for AAC in the Intensive Care Unit featuring the first focused use of Voice and Message Banking for patients who will experience a short or long term loss of speech skill.
	1995 Develop Freestyle, the first AAC device with a computer operating system.
	1995 Develop LINK, a portable alphanumeric device with speech output for persons with good access to the keyboard, but poor speech output.
	1994 Develop MultiPhone, an AAC-based telephone for the world market.
	1993 Conduct double-blind studies and create clinical protocols for establishing the actual author during facilitated communication (FC). Research contributes to the debunking of the FC phenomenon.
	1991 After a partnership with Digital Equipment Corporation, develop MultiVoice, the first voice synthesizer developed expressly for persons with disabilities. The MultiVoice uses high quality dec-talk speech.
	1991 Develop WriteAway, the first word prediction, word processing software program for persons with language learning disabilities, after determining a clinical need for a software program that would help author predict the spelling of words.
	1991 Develop VoisShapes?, an AAC software application that uses graphic elements of American Sign Language to create words and phrases.
	1989 Mobile Outreach Program hits the road, the first mobile AAC clinic dedicated to providing service to less mobile persons and more rural communities.
	1988 Introduce voice banking in clinical practice at the Communication Enhancement Center and inpatient population at Children's Hospital Boston.
	1985 Introduce the first clinical application of voice recognition for persons with spinal cord injuries.
	1985 Feature matching as a diagnostic tool is introduced in routine clinical practice at the Communication Enhancement Center.
	1985 Communication Enhancement Center, the first center in the United States dedicated to AAC, opens at Children's Hospital Boston.
	1984 Develop Message Maker-Scanning software, allowing persons who were unable to use a keyboard to efficiently construct messages. As a cursor reached the desired letter, the user could activate a switch to bring up the list of possible word choices.
	1983 Develop Message Maker-Keyboard software allowing persons with motor disabilities to efficiently construct messages using a computer keyboard. When a letter is selected, the list of words beginning with that letter become available for selection.
	1983 Mount an Apple IIe on the wheelchair of 15-year-old Tony Bonfiglio, a child with cerebral palsy. This was the first general purpose computer ever mounted on a wheelchair used as a communication device.
	1981 Develop Target, the first general purpose computer software program that uses scanning for people with physical disabilities.
	1980 Develop the Election Decision Matrix, the first systematic approach for establishing candidacy for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).